February Fripperies

I am usually up and about early and even over this bitterly cold and miserable weekend it has been no different – no hibernation mode for me!  It started well when a neighbour (from No.3) and I rocked-up at Gotherington Garden Centre before 9am!  Gotherington is a small village about 4 miles away but feels like the middle of nowhere. It is our ‘go-to’ place for all things rural.

​I bought a 3m long poly-tunnel (about 75 cm high) for my veg patch – need to warm up the soil and protect some of the plants that are already in the ground.  However, it has been so terribly cold even the broad-beans that are already under another poly-tunnel are looking a bit shocked and sorry for themselves. Such a shame as they were looking rather splendiferous a week ago.

Paul has been working in the garden quite a lot during February - clearing ivy and detritus from the garden perimeter line, and our direct neighbour (No.5) is doing that continuation part of his garden too.  

They are working on a fencing project and will be ordering the wood and posts and whatever else is needed and getting it delivered over the next few weeks.  However, the ground is so icy-hard at the moment there is no way any holes can be dug in preparation!  

The “I am man, I want fire” proclamation was satisfied with the purchase of one of those metal burning-bins – so now it’s the green-light for anything bonfire-like! It's amazing how much time can be spent chucking stuff on a fire whilst cupping a hot beverage, or a beer!?

​I recently bought a Hibiscus bush; a friend gave me some vouchers at Christmas so I was able to splurge and buy a larger plant than normal.  Excellent.  Obviously, it just looks like a bunch of dry sticks at the moment but I am hopeful that it will like the soil here and flourish accordingly.  We successfully planted loads of these when we were in Australia – to surround and hide the septic tank in the middle of the garden!  The Hibiscus plants were much cheaper there, relatively speaking.  My plan over the next week is to studiously (as opposed to my usual random approach) plan flower-bed No.3.  This is the one I actually spent about £70 on a ‘pack’ of plants about two years ago, but it’s just not working or coming together.  That’s more than likely because I spread the plants out too much.  I have learned that it’s best to cram everything in… it’s nature, it’ll sort itself out juxtapositioning for light and space.  Well, that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!

Well, it is now officially half-term and that means I do not have to log-on to any of my schools at all for the next week!  The out-of-office notification went “on” [which is interesting as we are all working from home] and now I can forget about it.  I have spent a few extra hours on some of the various Clerk work – but that’s really to satisfy my own organisational / administrative itch (as it were).

​Oh – I don’t think I have updated everyone – but I now have FIVE jobs! 

 There is the main coordinator job at the independent school (20 hours per week, working for the SEN department) and now three Clerk to the Governor’s roles – two of which kicked-in in January, and one of which was a bit of a full-on and quick endeavour insofar as I had already covered a couple of committee meetings before even receiving an official contract!  Therefore, it is probably fortunate that the Sports Hall Administration role is on hold because of the current lock-down.  I don’t know that I would have coped very well with setting up three new roles at the same time.  It’s only now that I feel that things are vaguely under control.  With the emphasis on vaguely!

In lots of ways I don’t mind the lockdown and working remotely but what I DO miss is being able to make some holiday plans or ‘bigger’ visits (weekend jaunts, or seeing particular friends who live further away).  I’m actually not that bothered about being particularly sociable on a day-to-day basis… but then again, that’s because we have a good rapport with all of our neighbours and can chew-the-fat and whinge and moan according to whatever the latest news reports are!?
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However, not being able to do some normal things like making an appointment to have a haircut can be very frustrating - especially as Paul is beginning to develop a mullet.....!

As you have seen the family has had a string on birthdays over the past month or so and my eldest niece celebrated her 30th birthday this week.  Keeping to the rules as much as possible a few of us managed to enjoy a bottle of prosecco and fairy-cakes over a very quick hour’s get-together.

​Other news?  Well, not much in all honesty. 

​I suppose this is the same for everyone.  The most exciting thing is the fresh parsley and lamb’s lettuce that appear to be flourishing in GH1, and the mushrooms quietly burgeoning in their small box in the warmth of the spare-room.  

​Still, it is light by 7.15am now and the sun doesn’t disappear until about 5pm, so that’s positive.  Focus on this if you’re feeling despondent - we’re half-way through February and spring is on the horizon!